The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $9 million grant to strengthen sustainable financial integration across East and the Horn of Africa, supporting efforts to build resilient financial systems that can drive inclusive economic growth and long-term development in the region.
The funding, drawn from the Fund’s 16th replenishment cycle, will support the East Africa and Horn of Africa Capital Markets and Payment Systems Integration Project (EAC-CAMPSI), which is expected to improve the capacity of regional financial markets to mobilise investment, expand access to finance, and support sustainable economic transformation.
Implemented by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, the project will cover nine countries, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with a focus on strengthening cross-border investment flows, modernising payment systems, and creating a more connected regional financial ecosystem.
By promoting efficient and integrated capital markets, EAC-CAMPSI aims to increase access to financial services for businesses and citizens, strengthen market infrastructure, enhance regulatory frameworks, and create greater opportunities for women and young people to participate in regional economies.
The initiative also supports the East African Community Cross-Border Masterplan (2025–2030) and contributes to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by developing the financial foundations needed to support sustainable trade, investment, and economic resilience.
EAC Secretary General Stephen Patrick Mbundi described the project as a critical step toward building a more interconnected and sustainable regional economy, noting that the future of East Africa depends not only on the movement of goods and services but also on the seamless movement of capital.
“This project represents an important step toward a more integrated regional financial system that can mobilise investment, deepen financial markets, and create new opportunities for businesses and citizens across our region,” Mbundi said.
Ahmed Attout, Director for Financial Sector Development at the African Development Bank Group, said the project reflects the Bank’s commitment to advancing regional integration through practical investments that strengthen financial infrastructure and regulatory systems.
He emphasised that integrated financial markets are essential to Africa’s economic transformation, adding that stronger regional financial systems would help mobilise domestic capital, deepen markets, and improve economic resilience.
Through EAC-CAMPSI, the African Development Fund and regional partners aim to create a more sustainable financial environment capable of supporting inclusive growth, expanding investment opportunities, and accelerating East Africa’s transition toward a resilient and interconnected economy.
